Air tickets Bishkek — Shymkent

Looking for tickets from Bishkek to Shymkent? On the Freedom Travel website and app you can find the available options, compare them by price and travel time, complete the booking and pay for your tickets online by card.

This page gathers the essentials about the route: the distance and approximate travel time, the connection pattern and the airlines, what makes up the price, plus the arrival airport and what to see in the city.

General information about flights between Bishkek and Shymkent

The straight-line distance between the cities is very short, about 420 km. That is exactly why there is no scheduled non-stop service: by air the route goes with a connection in Almaty and takes from about 5 hours. Time difference: Shymkent is 1 hour behind Bishkek. The route is popular with people visiting relatives, students and those travelling on business between southern Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Why buy flights from Bishkek to Shymkent with Freedom Travel

• We work with every airline available on the route
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Bishkek — Shymkent flight schedule

There are no direct flights between Bishkek and Shymkent: the trip is made up of two legs. Bishkek — Almaty takes around 1 hour, the Almaty — Shymkent flight about 1.5 hours, and the rest of the journey time is the wait for the connection.

Some services from Bishkek run on a seasonal schedule, so the set of connections differs by month and day of the week, and prices are dynamic. Check the current options for your date in the Freedom Travel search.

How much does a flight from Bishkek to Shymkent cost

The price depends on the departure date, the airline and fare, the season and how early you book. We do not publish fixed prices: the final amount including all fees is shown in the Freedom Travel search, and payment is made online by card.

Which airlines fly the Bishkek — Shymkent route

• Air Astana — the Bishkek — Almaty leg (seasonal schedule) and the Almaty — Shymkent flights
• FlyArystan — the Almaty — Shymkent leg
• SCAT — the Almaty — Shymkent leg

The line-up of carriers and connections changes, and an itinerary is often built from flights of different airlines. See the full up-to-date list in the Freedom Travel search for your chosen dates.

How to get from Bishkek to Shymkent: travel options

There is no non-stop Bishkek — Shymkent flight in the timetable: the distance is too short for a dedicated air service.

By air the route runs through Almaty: the short hop from Bishkek is flown by Air Astana, and the onward flights to Shymkent by Air Astana, FlyArystan and SCAT. Total travel time is largely determined by the length of the layover.

On such a short hop travellers overwhelmingly choose ground transport, so a connecting flight mainly makes sense as part of a longer journey, for example if you continue onwards from Shymkent. As this is an international trip and the connection may be in a third country, check in advance whether you need a transit visa.

Find return flights from Shymkent to Bishkek

Shymkent airport

Flights are handled by Shymkent International Airport (CIT), located about 10 km from the city centre. Buses and taxis run into town.

What to see in Shymkent

Shymkent is one of the largest cities in Kazakhstan and a major centre of the south of the country, combining ancient history with modern development.

• Dendropark — a large park with a collection of plants
• Ken Baba ethno-park — a park with elements of traditional Kazakh culture
• Ordabasy Square — the central square of the city
• Central Park — a popular place to relax
• Regional Museum of History and Local Lore — exhibits on the archaeology, history and ethnography of the region
• Citadel of ancient Shymkent — remains of an ancient settlement in the historic part of the city

Check the available Bishkek — Shymkent connections in the Freedom Travel search and issue your ticket online as soon as you find a departure time that works.